While you were counting sheep last night, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell was counting Benjamins after it was announced—just after midnight last night—that Bell plans to sign a four-year, $52.5-million deal with the New York Jets later today.
Bell, who shocked the NFL by sitting out the entire 2018 season on the franchise tag after failing to agree on a new contract last summer, officially became a free agent when Steelers GM Kevin Colbert opted not to place a franchise or transition tag on him for the 2019 season.
The two-time All-Pro running back, after gaining nearly 2,000 total yards during the 2017 season, opted to ditch the $14.5-million franchise tag in 2018—costing him about $855,000 per game—so he could preserve his legs and really, all of his body, for a big contract in free agency this off-season.
The Jets get a running back who is averaging 128.9 total yards per game from 2013 to 2017, the highest for an NFL back over the first five seasons of a career since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. During that span, he rushed for 5,336-yards and 35 touchdowns while catching 312 passes for 2,660-yards and another 7 scores.
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Source: ESPN